Angels, Aliens and Archetypes is an astro-anthropologist
piece, a look into the very possible future of mankind as it documents its own past. The following is the
Curator's statement at its opening in the Earth Museumexhibition in 2134.

The Third World War devastated the Earth. What we now know is that afew surviving bands of humans still eke out a living in underground
shelters.Over time, their children’s children have lost all memory of what
civilizationhad been like before the
war. Their Oral traditions are limited and much has been lost.The
descendants of the survivors are terrified of what might await them outside of
the caves. Only a few take the risk and venture above.

But Civilization did survive- a small colony emigrated to
Mars in 2024, not knowing that they would not be able to return. For scientific purposes however, Astro-anthropologists
Merritt and Olshan have managed to return to Earth every few years to document
these changes and assess the possibility of a safe permanent return.

The photosdocumentthe return of man- some
would say devolution-to his natural
habitat. Merritt and Olshan have been able to trace a family through time, even
recreating, in the Museum a replica shrine of the “original,” new family
–crafted by a descendent. Walking through the room is a journey through time
and survival for this “first family.”Webegin to understand how even
the most mundane objects left by devastation, become the seeds of rebirth.

Mankind hadreverted
to tribal societies- the artifacts tell
the story of a couple, raised in separate tribes, who lived underground,
fearful of the dangers they were warned, existed above. Yet they courageously
ventured above, into the unknown and have managed to survive on their own.

And what they discover are common items from the not so
distant past are key to their survival, on many levels. The most mundane items
ofa dead civilization become valued, precious
heirlooms and adornments, while they utilize other items for basic survival. No
different from our prehistoric ancestors, but in this difficult world dreams
still creep in and universal memories are unlocked. At some point in time, they
no longer distinguish between reality and the dream state.

So the man is a shaman of sorts for his new family, and among
his sacred objects are dolls that he collects from the rubbish. In a
transcendent dream state, he incorporates them into his persona and conjures up
an other "self"a self he battles to survive. Sacred objects
take on a life of their own - sometimesthe dolls are as angels who watch over him and he must keep them near. But
at other times he sees them as aliens that take over his body and then he fights
to keep his soul. These dolls, once 20th century children's playthings, become
transformative objects and help create a new belief system and foundation for the
post-apocalypticsociety. The Shaman's
thought processes will seem alien to Olshan and Merritt. Life in the Mars
Colony depends and thrives on science and technology.

The woman becomes a warrior and hunter. But she dreams of sexuality
and motherhood, There is a primal instinct in her to keep the species alive-
innate, and strong. It is she who creates an altar to the supreme-being her
mate dreams of and there she prays for the chance to be a mother. The remains
that fill her landscape are full of abandoned photos. The ones she finds of
children attain a sacred status, and she embues them with a powerful magic.
These she pastes onto her body, believing that magic will enter andgift her
with children.

The shrine in the exhibition is a composite of sacred items,
which have, in one way or another, proven their value to their daughter. As she
ventures out on her own, the urban but desolate world she confronts gives her
choices. To stay in fear or to become a pioneer. Objects are not only sacred, they
are also tools. The objects of the past become the tools for the future, as she
will recognize thatthe limits ofwhat she can do is solely determined by her.
She is part artist, part shaman, part scientist and all survivor in this new
landscape. Those who follow her will rediscover the world and perhaps someday,
welcome the travelers home.